Romulus residents have been protesting the operation of the wastewater disposal well for two decades since it was first proposed in the city and became operational.
A subsidiary of Republic Services, Republic Industrial and Environmental Services (RIES), purchased the hazardous waste well facility located on Citrin Drive in the city last year. The transfer of the license was considered a minor modification to the permit and as such did not require public input under current state statutes. The state and federal well permits, and state operating license are issued for 10 years and may be renewed as long as the facility meets applicable requirements.
The 10-year permits and licenses were last renewed in 2011 and will expire in 2021. At the request of Romulus officials, Republic Services scheduled a virtual community meeting through the internet last Monday to address residents' concerns about the operation and safety measures at the deep injection well.
Answering questions submitted by area residents were John Frost, division manager, industrial services and Gary McCuistion, vice president of business development with Republic Services.
Residents submitted numerous questions about the well during the hour and a half webinar, many regarding the safety practices in place and the effect on the area in case of an emergency at the facility.
One questioner reminded the officials that there had been a leak at the well in 2005 which subsequently shut down operations there.
McCuistion said the there are currently 24-hour alarm systems and inspections of every process, including the containment system, and said flow rates and pressure are constantly monitored. He said if there is any leak or any irregularity, the system performs an instant shut off.
Residents also questioned the possibility of the well causing earthquakes or tremors. The officials said those instances were reported at high-volume salt water wells, but that there had never been solid evidence that wells like the one in Romulus caused earth tremors or earthquakes.
Residents also asked about plans of the company to make an investment in the community. Both officials responded that they would look at those opportunities but that the operation just started and that Republic already has announced several outreach programs. Questioned about the limits of distance waste could travel to the Romulus well, McCuistion said that cost is a limiting factor along with the kinds of waste the well is permitted to take. He said the well cannot take flammable or radioactive waste.
In response to a later question regarding the danger of cornonavirus at the facility, he assured the participants that the well does not take any medical waste.
Frost explained that all waste was offloaded in a closed, contained area at the well, which limited the possibility of any spill or danger to the public.
Residents also expressed concern about the truck routes through heavily traveled intersections in the city. McCuistion said that there is some risk throughout the industrial area and that Republic has an emergency contingency plan which includes a third party to help mitigate any such instance. In a follow up response, he noted that evacuation of residents in the case of a spill or traffic accident was highly unlikely but that the operation did have contingency plans in place.
He further explained that Republic has more than 30 years experience in operating hazardous waste disposal wells and cited the longevity and safety record of a hazardous disposal well serving Louisiana for more than three decades.
Operations at the plant are expected to begin, the managers said, in about 15 to 30 days.
Romulus Mayor LeRoy Burcroff and the city executive team met with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) last September to voice concerns about the transfer of the license for the deep injection well to Republic Services, and to request a public hearing prior to any such transfer. The request for transfer was approved by EGLE before a hearing could take place, leaving residents’ comments and questions unaddressed.
City officials continued to urge EGLE, the governor's office and Republic management to host a public hearing prior to the onset of operations of the facility. The virtual meeting last week was a result of the efforts of Romulus officials to ensure accurate information was provided to residents and establish a channel for public input on the issue.
“Our primary responsibility is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Romulus. While the City of Romulus has always voiced its strong objections to the operation of any hazardous waste injection well in the city, the state several years ago, over those objections, granted a permit to operate the well on Citrin Drive, and in September, approved the transfer of the license,” commented Burcroff.
“My team has been working hard for months to ensure the people of Romulus have the opportunity to participate in a public meeting on the deep injection well and we are pleased Republic is accommodating this request.
“Though current circumstances have caused this change in meeting format, we think it is still vitally important to give the public the opportunity to be engaged with this process. Republic has made significant safety improvements to the facility and we look forward to hearing more about their operations during the meeting,” Burcroff added in a prepared statement.
According to the Republic Waste website, the hazardous injection well pumps dangerous manufacturing waste 4,500 feet below ground into a defined sandstone rock area. The company can accept 26 truckloads of toxic waste per day and has about 200 customers.
The Detroit Industrial Well facility is located in a heavy industrial zone and is permitted to handle approximately 87 million gallons of liquid waste annually.
The company, headquartered in Houston, TX, has owned or operated more than 15 deep injection wells in the country, according to the website.
“The Detroit Industrial Well facility is committed to operating with environmental practices and policies that are good for our customers, local businesses and residents. Our local team ensures that the long-term management of the facility is safe and responsible,” the website states.
To contact RIES with questions or concerns, call (734) 946-1000 or visit DetroitIndustrial Well.co
